Slate.



F. J. WOHLCKE & J. H. McLELLAN SLATE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. m4.

1, 136,575, Patented Apr. 20,1915. 5 !8 {2 F 55 ,11 4

lwuw/m 1 FIWO LGKEm q/VHWWMQQ J- H. M LELLH N WW SM- XEEY' 60% M 3% W atfWW/t" UNFFED S TATEf-i PATFQN 1 @FFlQlh FRED J. WOI-ILCKE AND JOSEPH H. MCLELLAN, OF NEDERLAND, COLORADO.

SLATE.

Application filed November 4, 1814.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED J. WoHLoKn and Josnrrr H. MOLELLAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Nederland, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in blackboards 0r slates and more particularly to what will be hereinafter known as an erasable roller slate, the main object of the present invention being the provision of a slate or blackboard, which is normally inclosed within a casing and mounted upon a spring controlled roller, whereby the blackboard or slate may be readily withdrawn when it is desired to use the same.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an erasable blackboard or slate which can be used upon oflice doors, store doors, residence doors, school rooms or various other places of this character where it is desired to write a message or in fact anything which is to be erased after a short period of time.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an erasable slate of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and, at the same time, is simple in construction and operation.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the slate member in its extended position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a cylindrical body which is generally inclicated by the numeral 1 and formed integral therewith are the supporting arms 2 having formed upon the outer ends thereof suitable feet 3 provided upon opposite sides of the arms 2 with openings whereby screws, nails or other fastening means are inserted there through to support the body 1 from a door,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1%15.

Serial No. 870,276.

wall or any other place of this character. The ends of the body 1 are preferably open and are normally closed by means of the cap members l which are preferably solid in cross secti n and are provided at their in ner ends with flanges 5 adapted to engage over the ends of the cylindrical body 1 to retain the same in their closed position.

Mounted for rotation within the body 1 is a central drum 6 and mounted upon the drum at one end thereof, are the spaced plates 7 preferably circular in form and ar ranged between these plates and mounted upon the drum, is a flat spring 8, one end of which is secured to the drum, while the other end thereof is secured to the inner wall of the body 1, whereby upon rotation of the drum, the spring 6 will be placed under tension, to provide for backward ro tary movement of the drum. The opposite end of the drum 6 is provided with a plate 9, which forms a stop for a roller slate 10 which is adapted to be wound upon the drum 6.

Each end of the drum 6 is provided with a suitable spindle 11 adapted to be mounted within bearings 12 formed in the caps l,

whereby the drum 6 may be readily and' easily rotated when desired. The roller slate 10 extends through a longitudinal slot 18 formed in the lower side of the body 1 and the outer end of this slate is provided with a hem, in which is arranged a tubular rod 1 1, the ends of which project beyond the sides of the slate 10 and engage the outer surface of the body 1 to prevent the roller slate from disappearing entirely within the body. Secured to the outer end of the slate 10, is a ring 15 which is adapted for engagement with a hook, pin, nail or the like to retain the slate in its extended position, such as indicated in Fig. 1. From this it will be apparent that when the slate is wound within the body 1, the ends of the tubular member 14 will engage with the outer surface of the body 1, and prevent the slate from disappearing within the body.

Secured to one end of the tubular rod 14:, is a cord 16, upon the outer end of which is fastened a pencil 17 preferably of a crayon type whereby it can be readily used to mark upon the slate 10, it being understood that the cord will be sufficiently long to allow the pencil tobe moved to any part of the slate. From this it will be apparent that when the pencil 17 is not in use, 1t may be placed within the end of the tubular rod l gand arranged entirely out of the way.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved roller slate will be apparent as follows :-lVhen it is desired to use the roller slate, which is preferably formed of white oil cloth, or any other material of this character which can be readily written upon, it is only necessary to grasp the ring 15, pulling downwardly upon the slate 10, until it has been extended to the desired length, this operation placing the spring 10 under tension. After the slate has been drawn out the desired length, the'ring 15 is engaged over the hook, nail orthe like to retain the slate in its operative position. After the slate has been used, the ring 15 may be disengaged from the hook or the like. The coil spring 8 which has been previously placed under tension, as stated, will rotate the drum (-3 and rewind the slate with in the body 1, the ends of the tubular rod 14 forming stops to prevent the disappearance of the slate within'the body 1.

In the construction of the casing or body 1, it will be noted that in forming the slot 13, the material which is cut from the slot is. curved outwardly and downwardly and adapted to yieldably bear against the supporting member on which the roller slate is 'mounted, so that when the slate is withdrawn from the casing, it will be pressed tightly against the base-board by the yieldable flange formed from the material which is cut in forming the slot 13. Secured to the front of the cylindrical body 1, is a frame forming a card holder 18 whereby a card may be placed therein having any suitable name arranged on the same. It will be apparent that the construction of our improved roller slate is extremely simple and by having the cap members 4: detachably engaged with the ends of the body, they can be readily removed for repairing or the like or for replacing the slate with a new one or changing the spring.

lVhile we have shown and described the preferred form of our invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying our invention into practice, without sacrificing any of the novel features, or departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 7

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A device of the class described including a cylindrical body open at both ends, means for supporting said body in a horizontal plane, cap members, each being provided with a central bearing recess, an annular flange formed upon each of said cap members and adapted to engage over the ends of the body to close the same, a rotatable drum within the body, bearing members formed in each end of the drum and adapted to be disposed within the bearing recesses of the cap members, a flexible element adapted to be wound upon said drum, said body having a slot through. which one end of the flexible element extends, a spring member mounted upon said drum adapted to be placed under tension upon the unwinding of said flexible element, whereby V the tension of said spring will rewind the flexible element..

2. A device of the class describedincluding a cylindrical body, means for support ing said body in a horizontal position, a rotatable drum within the body, a flexible element adapted to be wound upon said drum and unwound therefrom, said bodyhaving a slot through which the flexible element extends, a yieldable flange formed on one side of the slot, from the material which is cut to form said slot, said flange engaging the flexible element to retain the same against the object upon which the body is supported, and a spring member mounted upon said drum adapted to be placed under tension upon the unwinding of said flexible element, whereby the tension of said spring will rewind the flexible element.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses. i

FRED J. WOHLCKE. JOSEPH H. MQLELLAN.

Witnesses:

W. L. TANNER, V R. H. CRAWFORD.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

